Community’s Knowledge, Attitude and Practices on Hydatidosis and Its Public Health Implication in Asella and Adama Areas Central Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted from November 2011 to March 2012 in Adama and Asella areas of central Ethiopia using a cross-sectional questionnaire survey and hospital based retrospective study. Knowledge, attitudes and practices of the community on hydatidosis were assessed. A total of 336 individuals composed of 226 householders, 50 butchers, 40 abattoir workers and 20 health professional were interviewed. From the total, 174 (51.8%) of respondents have been heard of dog tapeworm. 165(73.0%) of the householders and 23(46.0%) of the butchers had never heard of human hydatidosis. From the total of 174 respondents who had heard of dog tapeworm, 50(28.7%) believed that dog tapeworm is health risk to them, 17(9.8%) did not and 107(61.5%) did not know whether it is a health risk or not to them. The respondents owned an average 15 livestock and 2 dogs. 321(95.5%) of the participants reported to practice back yard slaughter during the holidays, ceremonies and other feasts from which, 283(88.2%) give offal and condemned organs to dogs or threw it on open field and 38(11.8%) of them bury it. From 253(75.5%) who owned dog (s). 180(71.1%) of them considered their dog (s) as stray or semi-stray dog and also 152(60.1 %) deliberately fed offal to their dog but, only 17(6.7%) reported to treat their dog (s) periodically with anti-helminthes. There js some difference on the knowledge and attitude between each categories but it is not as such significant. Case book analysis between September 2007 and August 2011 showed that, out of the total of 35,697 patients admitted for ultrasound examination, 67 hydatidosis cases were registered, giving prevalence of 0.2%. From the total of 67 patients with hydatidosis, 45 (67.2%) were females and 22(32.8%) were males. The present finding has indicated that hydatidosis is an important zoonotic disease in the study area and appropriate control and preventive measures need to be taken.

Keywords: Adama, Asella, central Ethiopia. Hydatidosis, Medical records, public health risk, Retrospective study.